Is there a conspiracy theory yet about the US government sparking a war between Russia and Ukraine in order to have Snowden deployed to the front lines and eliminated? If not, I’d like to claim ownership.

Works for me

doubt. Snowden is a Putin's trophy.

It took him this long to abandon hope of getting a fair trial in his native land ?

If he were tried in the USA, the trail wouldn't need to be unfair to convict. What he did was clearly illegal. If it should be illegal is the debate.

OTOH he did perform a public service. It transformed the domestic debate. A jury trial would be suitable.

When Snowden first accepted asylum in Russia the government did not recognize dual citizenship. The law was changed. It took time to apply for citizenship. Although his immigration case is special to say the least and Russian laws can be changed by one man’s whims.

His traitorous nature made official

Or rather he was given to choose between acting as a pawn that way, and remain a free citizen in Russia, or be kicked out and either seek refuge in China or North Korea, or almost certainly be extradited by other counties to the USA where he would spend most of his life behind bars.

He will not be a free citizen of Russia. They will hold him hostage. If he is afraid of what the US can do, he should be more than concerned of what the Russia can do to him, given that his whole family is under their control.

I don’t envy his situation, but he has made his choice.

There are no free citizens in russia.